James 2 - Favoritism and Works-based Theology(?)

The first seven verses of the chapter speak to our human tendency to show favoritism to people based on their appearance, level of wealth, social standing, etc.  Simply put, according to James, don't do it.  In verses 8-13 we read about why not -- showing favoritism violates the law to love our neighbors as ourselves.  You can google stories about churches that ask people who aren't dressed as well to sit in balconies and stuff like that.  I won't presume to judge; perhaps there are other factors at play, but at first glance that type of policy would seem to fly directly in the face of this passage.  At the very least, it makes you think.

The rest of the chapter gets a little bit controversial, as James writes about the uselessness of a faith that doesn't manifest itself with any behavioral action.  "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" (v. 18).  Verse 24 is the big one that people have to wrestle with, "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."  Does this statement not run in direct opposition to the idea that salvation comes through faith, not by works (see Ephesians 2)?

I found this, and it makes sense to me.  Here's the link if you'd like to read more.

In Romans and Galatians, the apostle Paul has this question in mind: How can a guilty sinner be justified by God? Essentially Paul answers that a sinner is justified by faith in Christ, and not by the merit of his works. That is what we mean by 'sola fide'.

In his letter, James deals with a different question altogether. There is a man who claims to have faith and who assents to the cardinal doctrines of the gospel, including the first, namely, the unity of God. Yet this person is devoid of good works and is full of hypocrisy, so much so, that he insults a poor beggar with pious words without giving him anything. So, says James, can this sort of faith save him? 'What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?'

James is not asking whether a person is saved by faith plus the merit of his good works. He is asking about the kind of faith that saves. He mentions two types, the real and the counterfeit. Works distinguish one from the other: 'Show me your faith without your works; and I will show you my faith by my works.' Real faith is living, manifesting itself in good works; counterfeit faith is dead, barren, the mere assent to doctrine.

James asks, 'Can faith save him?' The answer is simply this: If it is real faith, manifest in good works, yes. But if it is a counterfeit 'faith', no, it cannot save him.

In verse 14, James writes about a person who "claims to have faith but has no deeds".  In this understanding, it isn't the works that make someone righteous before God, but rather the works serve as an indication that the faith in question is authentic, rather than the counterfeit faith that fails to show itself outwardly.  Some might take issue with some of this, but it makes you think.